SFM
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Posts posted by SFM
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I want to find a Spanish curriculum that can be used by a non-Spanish speaker and continues through high school.
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We switched from Singapore Math, which is mastery based to Saxon Pre Algebra this year and have been pleased. My littles do CLE now but I plan to transition all of them to Saxon when they enter 7th grade. It's spiral without a lit of flash, it's getting the concepts down and executing them. It's a solid program, in my opinion. We tried AoPS and it just wasn't for us.
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Yeah she loves ELTL which is CM like. But we aren't even doing it as written and she says what she likes most is the Lit selections and the extra reading in the book.
What is ELTL?
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I really dislike the font used in RSO Level 1 books. I know it sounds silly, but it really really annoys me.
YES! Me too.
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3
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If I have books I want my kids to read, they get assigned to my kids. We did that since K. My kids have assigned reading time and leisure reading time.
Same here.
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Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Precisely how I feel. My oldest is entering 7th and I am completely at a loss. Yes, I have the curricula, the ideas, the books but the confidence of when to back down and when to push and when to pull and when to... I have to rely upon God because honestly, I might lose my mind otherwise. We are transitioning just as much as they are. This is new and uncharted waters for me, pray without ceasing sisters.
Well, I don't think I have any good advice for you, since I feel the same way about my oldest (also 6th grade in the fall). I, too, am going back and forth on the "too tough, too easy" seesaw. :willy_nilly:
I also understand the feeling of "already miss her." You know, Nicole, we are transitioning ourselves, not just our children. We are moving away from a great deal of that direct, one-on-one, teacher-actually-teaching role. In the next three years, the torch will pass, I think. We have to find other ways to connect to our daughters, to reassure them (and ourselves) that, as we serve them less and less in a direct teaching capacity, we are still there for them as mothers.
I had a sudden thought this morning: Why is there a subforum called "Middle Grade Challenges" if it isn't challenging? LOL. Perhaps it's this stage in between the straightforward, teacher-intensive early years and the turning over of the subjects to outsourcing or self-study in high school -- perhaps it is this middle stage that really is the hardest to navigate, to know that what we are doing is "right." I do go around and around with it all: Will this burn her out? Will this prepare her for the next level?
At least for me, this planning season has been the hardest, with the most uncertainty. And, honestly? I told my husband just this morning, "I still don't have it." I have the "stuff," for sure. I can go ahead in the next few weeks and plan it all out, no problem. I mean, the next level of Math is the next level of Math, Grammar is Grammar, whatever, so that's fairly basic. But do I have a sense of confident clarity, a sense of being dialed in? No, I do not have that this time around. Truth be told, I am still waiting on the Lord for that wisdom and peace.
How do we know how to lead our children where we are not going ourselves? How do we transfer that leadership (which we have lovingly provided) to the child and to the Holy Spirit? I begin to see that the real need of the hour is to wait at the Cross for our own transformation and to bathe our children in the deepest intercessory prayer.
So, no real advice, but if empathy helps... :001_rolleyes:
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4
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Here's what we do in 1st:
WWE1 (10-15 mins)
FLL1 (10 mins)
Phonics Pathways with Reading Pathways, BOB books, and the All About Spelling readers (20-30 mins)
Then, I read aloud to her.
HTH
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Have you looked at the list of possible sequence through WWE/WWS by SWB? This might be helpful, and reassuring that your child is on the right track.
I also, heartily second this suggestion.
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I stopped WWE4 with my oldest and went to Killgallon Sentence Composing and it was perfect for us. We then started back with Writing With Skill and it was perfect.
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Are there any prerequisites for this program?
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We are doing the Medeival guide--intermediate. It is exactly what we needed this year. The books are just wonderful. I don't enjoy long stretches of read alouds because I have younger kiddos that distract. The BF readings have been just about right for us time wise. There is a lot of good stuff in the guides but we haven't had a chance to get to much of it. The reading and an occassional website are all that we've needed so far. I could not have made the schedule myself so I still feel the guide was worth the cost. I was a sonlight failure, but this fits us.
Precisely! It fit the bill for us perfectly this year.
I love it, but it depends what you are looking for. Honestly, in the middle guides, it is primarily discussion questions. There are a few other assignments such as drawing a map, or comparing, or writing a short report. But the bulk of the guide is scheduling pages and discussion questions. However, for me, it fits the bill. I like the flexibility with a little bit of structure. I tend to assign CM or TWTM type of writing assignments to our reading and this fit well with BF. The price of the guide is great, and most of the books are at our library.
There is also the freedom to skip books and add or take away anything you like. Some of the readings can be long, but it is supposed to be both history and literature.
For me, the beauty of it is the book list, the loose schedule and just enough structure with just enough freedom. As a side, my kids have always loved the book selections more than anything else we've used!
Again, precisely. :) I recommend it.
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The last three years we have not taken summer off but this year, I am tired, I want a break. We are going to take all of summer. I am going to use that time to plan for the fall, make copies, get spines cut and spiral bound, etc. the kids will continue with mathematics reviews, writing everyday and reading everyday, because to me reading and writing aren't "school" those are things you should be doing anyways. So, add in the pool almost daily, library summer programs, and vacationing at the beach and visiting grandparents and our summer is quite full already. We are really looking forward to the break.
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My son loves Tin-Tin, Calvin and Hobbes, Foxtrot, Garfield, Peanuts, Mutts. His favorites, Mutts, Foxtrot, and Tin-Tin by far, hope that helps.
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My DD7 will be entering 2nd grade and has finished the Phonics Pathways book and Phonograms from WRTR and reads fluently and has even finished some series. I just started her in R&S's Spelling by Sound and Structure, it's great. She's a natural speller anyways and has a thorough phonics background so we just go over any new spelling rules and talk about the sounds. It's quite simple.
Just something else you maybe hadn't thought of yet.
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OP, while our circumstances may be different I feel as if I learned similar things. I have to take care of myself, my relationship with God has to be paramount to be rejuvenated and renewed to serve others all day long, every day. I learned that exercise makes me happier and feel more prepared to do the things I have been called to do. I learned that sometimes it's not the curriculum I choose it's just choosing to DO it. To show up everyday ready to learn right along with them instead of analyzing every possible curriculum available to me but teaching but I know and knowing we will get there. Slow and steady, there is no magical formula. I learned that true success for me is to see my children walk in the truth and walk with the Lord. I don't define success by how much money they will make, what college they will attend, what career path they choose, my hope is that they follow God with their whole hearts. That's what I learned and it's so easy to get side tracked with all the new curriculum catalogs coming out and reading these forums and seeing what works for others instead of focusing my gaze back to the real people within my life and what I really need to be doing. Serving, loving, educating my own and letting the rest fall away.
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4
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We are adding a few things this year.
Piano: $1500/annually +cost of materials
Soccer: $400/annually (this includes a soccer camp - 5 hours for 5 days)
Choir: Free through our local church and it's an amazing choir
Pool: $250 for summer pass
So, $2,150/annually. We might be adding horseback riding and/or art classes this year as well.
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Little House Series
Five Children and It
The Cricket in Times Square
and Mary Poppins and A Little Princess
My son and I loved reading The Hobbit and The Sign of the Beaver aloud together. My daughters literally listen to all of the Beverly Cleary Ramona books on audible and then re-listen to them all over again. They can quote them. I haven't ever read them aloud but that love them.
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Perhaps the way in which my post was worded gave the wrong impression. I don't care if anyone wants to do curriculum and/or do a full curriculum for any grade or age. I was just curious if perhaps I am only one of the few who somewhat delay 'K' and leave it mainly up to the child. I should also be clear that she has done an alphabet book and we talk about the sounds but otherwise nothing else very formal. Sorry if it came across snarky. That was not the intent. I understand there are all different sorts of ways that work better for different people and different children and I did not mean to imply that my way of doing things is better or worse than any other way but rather to get feedback from others who might also delay formal Kindergarten as well.
HTH.
ETA: I also am curious as to what an unschooling Kindergarten looks like.
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I have been surprised by how many people ask us what curriculum we are going to use for my rising "Kindergartener". I don't. We read, we talk, we play, if she wants to do some of her workbook stuff, she can. I don't really "force" any curricula and/or teaching onto a five year old. But it got me thinking? Am I the only one? We are new to the area and don't know many people here so I wondered....what say you? Do you "do" Kindergarten?
ETA: My older daughter didn't really "do" Kindergarten, my son went to a traditional PS in Kindergarten but she is reading at a 3/4 grade level and is set to finish 1st grade this year. Just my experience thus far. My state requires that I teach K, so technically I will have to show proof that we did but she's tag along enough that we'll be fine. In Finland school begins at 7. I think they're on to something. :)
ETA 2:
Perhaps the way in which my post was worded gave the wrong impression. I don't care if anyone wants to do curriculum and/or do a full curriculum for any grade or age. I was just curious if perhaps I am only one of the few who somewhat delay 'K' and leave it mainly up to the child. I should also be clear that she has done an alphabet book and we talk about the sounds but otherwise nothing else very formal. Sorry if it came across snarky. That was not the intent. I understand there are all different sorts of ways that work better for different people and different children and I did not mean to imply that my way of doing things is better or worse than any other way but rather to get feedback from others who might also delay formal Kindergarten as well.
HTH.
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We love Singapore here, but when my daughter hit a wall this year, R&S was a great choice to turn to, traditional, solid, gets done, and she really enjoys it. We go back and forth for her, I know they are very different math programs but they work for her. :)
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The site is working for me. It makes me thankful I ordered all of them when I did though. :)
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I have tried WRTR, Spelling by Sound and Structure, Spelling Power, Sequential Spelling and AAS for my poor speller. I finally broke down and ordered Apples and Pears and it is the only thing that has helped with spelling. He can now spell things outside of spelling as well. I think the break down in morphemes helps a lot. He is learning to break down words and rewrites them through the whole course of a "level". He has even been encouraged by his own spelling, to me, that's worth it. I didn't want him to start thinking he just isn't smart because he isn't the best speller. It's an excellent program and it works. We plan to continue it to completion.
HTH.
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My baby is a Kindergartener this fall; when did that happen? This is what we have lined up for this year.
Phonics Pathways
Rod and Staff Math 1
Rod and Staff Kindergarten workbooks (she loves "doing" school with these).
Science and History with the older two, she'll be playing outside, jumping on the trampoline, and hearing great books as well. :) I try to keep it fairly simple in Kindergarten.
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Listening in....
Lightning Literature or Drawn Into the Heart of Reading
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
I am starting a literature program for my 4th grader, we have just read literature up until this point and I feel like I need a little more structure this year. Has anyone used DITHOR and/or Lightning Literature to compare the two? Pros/cons?